Alan Hawe from Ballyjamesduff, Cavan pictured with his sons (l-r) Ryan (6), Liam (13) and Niall (11) at a East Cavan Eagles basketball team

Five hearses arrive at the house at Barconey, Ballyjamesduff, in Cavan to remove the bodies for post-mortem

A Garda technical officer lifts tape as a hearse leaves the scene at Oakdene, Barconey, Ballyjamesduff in Cavan, where a family of five were found dead in their countryside home. PA

Coffins are taken to hearses at the scene in Oakdene, Barconey, Ballyjamesduff in Cavan, where a family of five were found dead in their countryside home. PA

Coffins are taken to hearses at the scene in Oakdene, Barconey, Ballyjamesduff in Cavan, where a family of five were found dead in their countryside home. PA

A letter, addressed to relatives was found inside the house at 3 Oakdene Downs, Barconey in Co Cavan where Alan Hawe, his wife Clodagh and their three children Liam (13), Niall (11) and Ryan (6) were found dead.

Another note was earlier found, pinned to the front door warning callers not to enter the house and to call gardai.

Details of the second note have emerged following a full day's search at the scene of the house at Oakdene Downs in the townland of Barconey, near Ballyjamesduff, in Co Cavan.

Sources say it reveals the vulnerable state of mind which Mr Hawe was in when he carried out the murders of his wife and three children.

Mr Hawe, who was 40 was a vice principal at Castlerahan National School.

His wife Clodagh (39) was also a teacher, at Oristown National School near Kells, Co Meath.

In Alan Hawe's home village of Windgap, in rural Kilkenny, his family and friends were coming to terms with the tragedy.

Speaking to Independent.ie, an uncle of Alan Hawe said the family were devastated by what has happened.

Alan’s uncle, Nicholas Hawe, added the family were going through a very challenging time.

“It’s just difficult at the moment…it’s all very raw,” Mr Hawe told Independent.ie

Mr Hawe is one of the founding members of Alan’s beloved Windgap Handball Club, said the father-of-three was heavily involved in handball.

“Alan would have won a number of titles,” his devastated uncle Nicholas said.

“He played from about 8-years of age. He won provincial and other titles.

“He played with his brother and his cousin Niall.”

A neighbour of the Hawe family today expressed devastation at the deaths and described Mr Hawe as "the most normal person you could meet".

Larry McGinn, a close friend and neighbour of Alan Hawe, described how the community of Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan was in absolute shock at the bombshell news that emerged in the area yesterday morning.

"You could say 'Alan, the pitch needs to be marked up there or a gate opened.

"He was very committed.

"He was the sole person who would do anything for anybody at any time of day or night. He was very obliging."

Mr McGinn added how Alan Hawe was set to attend a meeting of the Castlerahan Community Development Association tonight- a meeting which has since been cancelled- and had shown indications that he intended to be at the event.

"I tell you if this happened in any other house in the parish, he is the one you would be ringing first to coordinate and help everything that would need to be done," Mr McGinn said of his friend.

Other neighbours described the family as "the most normal people you would meet", and were struggling to comprehend what happened in the Oakdene estate on Monday morning.

"We saw the first Garda car pulling in and we wondered what happened but thought nothing of it. Then another came, and another and we soon realised that something awful had happened. We just can't understand it," one elderly neighbour said.